Leader of the House of Lords

House of Lords: Coronavirus

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask the Leader of the House what steps she is taking to ensure that parliamentary business can continue in the event of movement restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

baroness evans of bowes park: The Government has undertaken detailed work on COVID-19 with four strands: contain, delay, research and mitigate. Should there be a need to implement restrictions on movement then the Government, in consultation with the Usual Channels, will update the House on the next steps in relation to parliamentary business if there is a need to do so. While COVID-19 has the potential to spread extensively there is no reason to change parliamentary business at this stage. The Government is monitoring the situation closely and providing regular updates to parliament and the general public.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

British Business Bank

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the value of new loans extended by the British Business Bank sourced through peer-to-peer lending platforms has (1) increased, or (2) decreased, over the last three completed financial years; and what percentage of such loans were to borrowers who had already received funding from the British Business Bank.

lord callanan: The British Business Bank’s participation in peer-to-peer lending platforms has been primarily through the Bank’s commercial subsidiary British Business Investments. Data collected across programmes and delivery partners is consolidated on a programme-by-programme basis. The value of new loans extended by the British Business Bank sourced through peer-to-peer lending platforms has increased year-on-year over the last three completed financial years. Over the three year period, of the 15,420 distinct SME customers that have received financing through the peer-to-peer delivery partners of British Business Investments, 9.36% have been to repeat peer-to-peer customers[1]. The Bank does not hold data on how many peer-to-peer customers may previously have benefitted from other British Business Bank programmes. [1] This data excludes finance through Market Invoice as a single customer could have multiple invoices funded through the platform at a time.

Business: Billing

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Callanan on 24 February (HL1666), what measures they have used to ensure that the 34 businesses reinstated to the Prompt Payment Code remain compliant with the Code; and (2) what assessment they have made of the impact of any such measures on suppliers.

lord callanan: Payment Performance of the companies reinstated to the Prompt Payment Code will remain under review. The administration of the Code will shortly be transferred to Office of the Small Business Commissioner. Post-transfer, the Office of the Small Business Commissioner will continue to challenge signatories to the Code if their Payment Practice Reporting data suggests that their practices are not compliant with the Code. Following a suspension, signatories will only be reinstated once they have demonstrated that they have achieved compliance.

Business: Billing

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 24 February (HL1666), what was the average length of time taken to pay invoices to SME suppliers by (1) the 66 businesses suspended from the Prompt Payment Code, and (2) the businesses that remainsignatories to the Code.

lord callanan: The Payment Practices Reporting Duty data is used to monitor compliance with the Code, where companies are legally required to report their payment practices. The legal duty to submit data does not require differentiation in reports between payments to SMEs and payments to large companies. It requires them to report on payments of all invoices across the company. Additionally, the voluntary Code requires signatories to pay 95% of all invoices in 60 days and signatories are not required to provide information on payment terms and payment performance relating to SMEs as a separate requirement. Therefore, this data is not available. We will shortly begin engagement with current signatories on the reform and strengthening of the Code.

Business: Billing

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what percentage of large businesses operating in the UK are signatories to the Prompt Payment Code; and (2) what target they have set, if any, for the percentage of such businesses to be signatories to the Code.

lord callanan: The Government does not hold precise figures on the number of large businesses signed up to the Prompt Payment Code.The Government has not set Code sign-up targets, but we are fully committed to ensure as many businesses as possible sign up to the Code. We will shortly begin engagement with current signatories on the reform and strengthening of the Code.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Sudan: International Criminal Court

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Omar al-Bashir, and others in Sudan against whom warrants have been issued by the International Criminal Court, will be handed over to stand trial; who else they expect will be subject to prosecution; and when they anticipate that those cases will be brought to trial.

baroness sugg: The UK welcomes the news that Sudan intends that Omar al-Bashir, and four others indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), will stand trial for crimes committed in Darfur. Accountability for Bashir and others is a significant step in Sudan's progress towards the goals of the revolution and a peace settlement in Darfur. We welcome this signal of the commitment of Sudan's transitional government to justice. The Sudanese authorities have not yet set out how they will cooperate with the ICC on arrest warrants, but have stated their intention for those indicted by the ICC to be tried for the crimes for which they have been charged. The modality of any trial, as well as the issuing of any further warrants of arrest or summons to appear, will also need to be agreed. The UK strongly supports the ICC, and the role it plays in holding perpetrators to account and achieving justice for victims.

Sudan: South Sudan

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement byLord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 29 January (HL Deb, col 1441), what are the findings of their report into the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei’s failure to protect vulnerable people in the region.

baroness sugg: We welcome the commitment of the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to de-escalate tensions and jointly investigate the circumstances surrounding the recent incidents of violence in Abyei. We urge for these investigation to be conducted swiftly and transparently. We also continue to engage with the United Nations to establish further clarity concerning UN Interim Security Force in Abyei patrols and community engagement, especially during periods of heightened local tensions.

Sudan: South Sudan

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the governments of Sudan and South Sudan about thecase for an urgent political settlement for the disputed region of Abyei.

baroness sugg: The Minister of State for the UN and Human Rights raised the issue of intercommunal tensions in the Abyei region with the Sudanese Ambassador to London on 28 January. The UN Security Council made clear in a press statement on 29 January that the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan must provide their full support to the UN Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA). In addition the Security Council called on the AU and UN Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa to intensify their mediation efforts with the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to achieve a political solution for the status of Abyei. The British Embassy in Khartoum continues to raise this issue with all parties, most recently with senior officials in the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 26 February, to urge the resolution of outstanding issues relating to the effectiveness of UNISFA's mandate in Abyei. Ultimately a political solution to the conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan must include a resolution to the status of Abyei; we therefore welcome progress in Sudan peace talks in talks in Juba and the decision to form a Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan on 22 February. Along with our Troika partners (US and Norway) our engagement in both Sudan and South Sudan continues to focus on achieving lasting peace.

Sudan: South Sudan

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to ensure an official referendum is held to allow the people of the disputed region of Abyei to determine whether they want to be part of Sudan or South Sudan.

baroness sugg: A political solution to the conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan must include a resolution to the status of Abyei, and this should include the views of the communities involved. The UK will continue to engage with all parties to secure a lasting political solution in Abyei, including with the governments of Sudan and South Sudan and in multilateral fora such as the United Nations and African Union.

Gibraltar: Schengen Agreement

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 19 February (HL1487), whether they intend to prohibit Gibraltar from applying to join the EU Schengen open border area.

baroness sugg: As Lord Ahmad stated in his response to question HL1487, the United Kingdom will be negotiating the future relationship with the EU on behalf of the whole United Kingdom family, including Gibraltar. The United Kingdom, including Gibraltar, is not part of the borderless Schengen zone.

Libya: Peace Negotiations

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the adoption of Resolution 2510 (2020) by the UN Security Councilon 12 February, what practical next steps they are taking to implement the resolution; and in particular "the need for a lasting ceasefire in Libya at the earliest opportunity,without pre-conditions".

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is clear that lasting peace and stability in Libya will come only through an inclusive political settlement. On 16 February the Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa represented the UK at the first meeting of the International Follow Up Committee to the Berlin Conference, briefing fellow participants on UNSCR 2510. The resolution demands full compliance with the UN arms embargo and an end to foreign military interference in Libya, and makes clear that individuals or entities who breach the arms embargo or an eventual ceasefire may be sanctioned with travel bans and asset freezes. The UK has also continued to urge both the Libyan parties and the key international players to engage fully with the efforts of the former UN Envoy Ghassan Salamé, including the 5+5 military dialogue which has convened in Geneva and is working towards a lasting ceasefire.

British Nationals Abroad: EU Countries

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they intend to take to establish the continuation of existing rights for British citizens who are currently resident in EU countries under EU freedom of movement rules; and whether any such negotiations and agreements will take place with (1) the EU, or (2) individual countries.

baroness sugg: The Withdrawal Agreement that the UK concluded with the European Union (EU) provides certainty for UK nationals living in the EU about their citizens' rights going forward.Under the agreement, UK nationals who are already lawfully resident in an EU Member State by the end of the transition period, on 31 December 2020, will be able to remain in their Member State of residence and can continue to live and work broadly as they do now for as long as they remain in scope of the agreement.The Government has set out its approach to the negotiations in 'The Future Relationship with the EU: The UK's Approach to Negotiations'. The Government wishes to see a future relationship with the EU based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals for the benefit of all our peoples.

Burkina Faso: Terrorism

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Burkina Faso following the escalation of terrorist violence in that country since 2015.

baroness sugg: The UK is deeply concerned by the scale of terrorist violence in Burkina Faso. We are committed to working with the G5 Sahel countries, including the Burkinabe government, to help address instability in the region. The UK is currently supporting Burkina Faso by providing emergency life-saving assistance to those affected by the conflict crisis. The UK is also providing non-combat assistance to the French-led counter terror mission Operation BARKHANE in the form of three CH47 chinook helicopters; this includes support to operations in Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso: Christianity

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that over 191 Christians have been killed in Burkina Faso since April 2019.

baroness sugg: The UK condemns recent attacks against Christians including, last month, the attack on a church in Burkina Faso that killed 24 people. Nobody should live in fear because of their identity or beliefs. Religion-based and intercommunal violence is part of a broader trend of security deterioration in Burkina Faso that has tragically taken the lives of many civilians. We are committed to working with all partners, including G5 Sahel countries, to protect freedom of religion or belief for all.The UK is deeply concerned by the scale of terrorist violence in Burkina Faso. We are committed to working with the G5 Sahel countries, including the Burkinabe government, to help address instability in the region. Last week, James Duddridge (Minister for Africa) attended the first meeting of the Sahel Alliance General Assembly and G5 Leaders' Summit, where he reaffirmed the UK's commitment to improved security and increased development in the Sahel. The UK is currently supporting Burkina Faso by providing emergency life-saving assistance to those affected by the conflict crisis. The UK is also providing non-combat assistance to the French-led counter terror mission Operation BARKHANE in the form of three CH47 chinook helicopters; this includes support to operations in Burkina Faso.As the UK increases its work to tackle poverty and instability in the Sahel, we will continue being a vocal champion for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms.

Department of Health and Social Care

In Vitro Fertilisation

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care on 15 April 2019 (241389), what explanation the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority provided for why no more than five patients at risk of producing a child with mitochondrial pathologies had undergone treatment by 20 January 2020, given 14 applications had been approved; and for the application that was not approved (1) what were the reasons for that refusal, and (2) what was the subsequent fate of that application.

lord bethell: It is the responsibility of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to decide on individual applications for mitochondrial donation that meet the statutory test laid out in the relevant regulations. Decisions on when to begin treatment are a clinical decision and not a matter for the HFEA.As of 25 February 2020, there have been 17 applications considered by the HFEA all of which have now been approved.

In Vitro Fertilisation

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 20 January (HL277), how many spontaneous miscarriages have been recorded pursuant to clinical application in the UK of (1) pronuclear transfer, and (2) spindle-chromosomal complex transfer; and what role the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has played in (a) the follow-up of patients, and (b) the review of such licensed activity.

lord bethell: There have been no miscarriages recorded pursuant to clinical application in the United Kingdom of pronuclear transfer and spindle-chromosomal complex transfer.The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has no role in the follow-up of patients. The HFEA inspects clinics periodically and reviews licensed activity in accordance with the relevant legislation and its Code of Practice.

Disability: Human Rights

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report to the United Nations Human Rights Council by the special rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, published on 17 December 2019; and what steps they intend to take in response to that report.

lord bethell: We are aware of the report and note the recommendations.

Social Services: Appeals

baroness greengross: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards the introduction of a statutory appeals process for adult social care as provided for by section 72 of the Care Act 2014; and whether such a process will be in place by April 2020.

lord bethell: Putting social care on a sustainable footing, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, is one of the biggest challenges we face as a society. The Government will bring forward a plan for social care this year. There are complex questions to address, which is why we will seek to build cross-party consensus. We will consider all options available to ensure that every person is treated with dignity and offered the security they deserve, and that nobody needing care is forced to sell their home to pay for it.

Social Services

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the (1) number, and (2) pay, of care workers.

lord bethell: Through our continued funding of Skills for Care, the Government provides a range of resources and practical toolkits for social care providers to help them attract, train and retain staff. This includes distributing £12 million annually through the Workforce Development Fund, which employers can bid to for financial support towards the training and development of their staff. Over the past two years we have also run a national recruitment campaign, designed to reduce the turnover and vacancy rate in the sector by raising the profile of adult social care, encouraging potential applicants to apply for job vacancies, and highlighting opportunities for career development and progression.Levels of pay for social care jobs are generally a matter for individual employers. However, local authorities, as commissioners of adult social care also have market shaping duties by virtue of the Care Act 2014. They must work with care providers to determine a fair rate of pay for fair work based on local market conditions.

Suicide: Gambling

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 13 February (HL1452), what assessment they have made of the potential benefit resulting from the (1) collection, and (2) publication, of data on the number of people who commit suicide for reasons connected with gambling-related harm.

lord bethell: We presently have no such plans. There is currently no reliable estimate of the number of suicides linked to problem gambling in the United Kingdom, and there would be significant challenges in attempting to record this. Expecting coroners to routinely assess the motivation for individual suicides in all cases would take the coroner role fundamentally beyond its legal parameters. The coroner’s role, and in particular what they are required to ascertain and determine, is a matter of both statute and case law, and cannot be extended administratively. Any legislative change would have to be considered very carefully.

Social Services: Recruitment

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the recruitment of social care workers.

lord bethell: The Government recognises that adult social care employers can struggle to recruit and retain the right number of staff with the right values and skills and that vacancy and turnover rates across the sector are high. We are committed to working alongside employers and stakeholders in adult social care to grow and develop the workforce, with the values and skills to deliver high quality, compassionate care.The Department has invested £7 million over the past two years in a national recruitment campaign designed to raise the profile of adult social care, encourage potential applicants to apply for job vacancies, and highlight opportunities for career development and progression. Through our continued funding of Skills for Care, we have also provided a range of practical support and resources for providers to help attract, retain and develop staff.

NHS: Computer Software

baroness thornton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) financial, (2) operational, and (3) security, implications of missing the January 2020 deadline to migrate all computers used by the National Health Service to Windows 10.

lord bethell: The whole of the National Health Service estate is covered by extended support for Windows 7 until January 2021. This means that the NHS will continue to receive security patches for the next year. This was included at no additional cost within the NHS Windows 10 Agreement.Government is supporting the roll out of Windows 10 across the NHS estate. This process is on track and all NHS organisations have agreed to migrate to Windows 10 by no later than December 2020.NHS trusts additionally benefit from access to Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP), which provides real time detection and protection against potential threats by identifying suspicious behaviour on devices indicative of a cyber-attack. ATP can be deployed on Windows 7 and Windows 10 machines and gives NHS Digital and local organisations enhanced capability to respond to threats in real time. Through ATP, NHS Digital can also see where every organisation is in relation to the deployment of Windows 10.

Podiatry

the lord bishop of carlisle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to (1) train, (2) recruit, and (3) retain, sufficient numbers of podiatrists to meet (a) current, and (b) future, needs.

lord bethell: The NHS People Plan, which will be published by the National Health Service in early 2020, will set out a clear framework for growing and sustaining a well-skilled workforce across the whole NHS.In December 2019, the Government announced additional maintenance grant funding, which will be available from September 2020 for new and continuing students of £5,000. In addition, students with child dependants will benefit from an extra £1,000 and new students studying a specialist subject including podiatry will be able to access a further £1,000. These grants are on top of student loan allowances and do not need to be re-paid.NHS Improvement has developed a shared learning resource to improve staff retention, including case studies to highlight the great work taking place across the service.

Social Services: Pay

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to ensure that social care workers doing equivalent jobs to NHS workers are paid equivalent rates.

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the costs of aligning the pay of NHS and social care workers.

lord bethell: The majority of social care in England is delivered by private companies. It is a matter for those employers to determine the rate of pay for their staff, including social care workers. The National Minimum Wage is the legal minimum employers must pay their workers. In addition, local authorities, as commissioners of adult social care were given market shaping duties by the Care Act 2014 and must work with care providers to determine a fair rate of pay for fair work based on local market conditions.The relative levels of pay in the National Health Service and social care are kept under frequent review.

Social Services

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the level of unmet and partially-met need within adult social care, and (2) the cost of addressing that need in 2024–25.

lord bethell: The Department has made no assessment of unmet and partially met need within adult social care. Therefore, it has made no assessment of cost of any unmet or partially met need for 2024-25.This Government has enshrined in legislation, through the Care Act 2014, councils’ statutory responsibility to meet eligible needs. This eliminates the postcode lottery of eligibility across England.

Social Services

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the stability of the adult social care provider market.

lord bethell: We are pleased that 84% of adult social care providers are rated as good or outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (February 2020).However, we know the social care sector is under pressure due to growing need for care. We are providing councils with a £1 billion grant for adults and children’s social care on top of maintaining £2.5 billion of existing social care grants for 2020/21.Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the care needs of their populations, and to develop and build local market capacity. This funding will support local authorities to meet rising demand and continue to stabilise the social care system.

Care Homes: Finance

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byBaroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 28 January (HL489), how many places in care or nursing homes the NHS funded in the last financial year for which figures are available; what was the total expenditure incurred; and how many homes were involved.

lord bethell: The Adult Social Care Activity and Finance Report for 2018/19 shows that, in that year, from the potential clients who applied for adult social care packages, 14,030 received a package that was 100% funded by the National Health Service. There are likely to be other packages that are funded in part by the NHS, but this information is not held centrally.Information on the overall expenditure of the NHS on care home placements and the homes concerned is not held centrally.

Health Professions: Migrant Workers

lord willis of knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many registered (1)nurses, and (2) midwives, whose initial registration was in another EU country left the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register in (a) 2016–17, (b) 2017–18, and (c) 2018–19.

lord bethell: The following table shows the number of registered nurses, registered nursing associates, and registered midwives with a European Economic Area (EEA) or non-EEA country of initial registration who left the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Register in 2016-17: Role TypeLeaversMidwife164Nurse2,868Nurse and Midwife (dual registration)49 3,081  The following table shows the number of registered nurses, registered nursing associates, and registered midwives with a EEA or non-EEA country of initial registration who left the NMC Register in 2017-18: Role TypeLeaversMidwife188Nurse3,728Nurse and Midwife (dual registration)46 3,962The following table shows the number of registered nurses, registered nursing associates, and registered midwives with a EEA or non-EEA country of initial registration who left the NMC Register in 2018-19: Role TypeLeaversMidwife156Nurse3,126Nurse and Midwife (dual registration)51 3,333

Attorney General

National Fund

lord de mauley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they intend to take, if any, in regard to the National Fund.

lord keen of elie: The National Fund was created in 1928 with the purpose of paying off the entire national debt. At present the fund cannot be used unless it completely clears the national debt, due to the terms of the fund’s charitable trust. On 22 May 2018 my predecessor made an application to the High Court to vary the terms of the charitable trust so that the National Fund can be used to help pay down the national debt. It is now for the High Court to decide whether the terms of the charitable trust should be varied. If the application is successful the money in the fund will be paid over to the National Debt Commissioners towards the reduction of the national debt. A hearing of the claim is due to take place in October.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners' Release: Housing

baroness corston: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to begin recording statistics on (1) the resettlement of offenders leaving prisons, and (2) prisoners who are released with no fixed abode.

lord keen of elie: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 20 January 2020.The correct answer should have been:

The accommodation status for all offenders released from custody, including those under National Probation Service (NPS), Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) supervision, and offenders on community sentences, has been published since July 2018. The latest publication can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/community-performance-quarterly-update-to-march-2019. The relevant table of data from this publication is attached for reference. It is vital that everyone leaving prison has somewhere safe and secure to live, as a platform to access the services and support needed to make a fresh start. We have invested an additional £22 million per annum over the remaining life of the Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) contracts to deliver an enhanced “Through-the-Gate” resettlement service to offenders leaving prison, to prepare them for release. Through the Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy, we are also investing up to £6.4m in a pilot scheme to support individuals released from three prisons: Bristol, Leeds and Pentonville. Services have now commenced in all three areas, with the first individuals now being supported into accommodation following release. Subject to evaluation, we will use the lessons from the pilot to inform future provision of accommodation for all ex-offenders. Additionally, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service is working in collaboration with other Government Departments and interested parties to help to meet the accommodation needs for prisoners on their release.


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Table for HL111
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lord keen of elie: The accommodation status for all offenders released from custody, including those under National Probation Service (NPS), Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) supervision, and offenders on community sentences, has been published since July 2018. The latest publication can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/community-performance-quarterly-update-to-march-2019. The relevant table of data from this publication is attached for reference. It is vital that everyone leaving prison has somewhere safe and secure to live, as a platform to access the services and support needed to make a fresh start. We have invested an additional £22 million per annum over the remaining life of the Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) contracts to deliver an enhanced “Through-the-Gate” resettlement service to offenders leaving prison, to prepare them for release. Through the Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy, we are also investing up to £6.4m in a pilot scheme to support individuals released from three prisons: Bristol, Leeds and Pentonville. Services have now commenced in all three areas, with the first individuals now being supported into accommodation following release. Subject to evaluation, we will use the lessons from the pilot to inform future provision of accommodation for all ex-offenders. Additionally, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service is working in collaboration with other Government Departments and interested parties to help to meet the accommodation needs for prisoners on their release.


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Table for HL111
(Word Document, 23.59 KB)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Nature Conservation

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports of an increase in the number of thefts of endangered plant species, whether they have any plans to stregthen the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: The Government takes all crime seriously and there are strong penalties in place for those found guilty of offences committed against wild plants and animals. Wild plants are protected under section 13 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, with additional protection afforded to wild plants listed on Schedule 8. Where there is evidence to suggest that illegal activity is occurring, we encourage all relevant authorities to ensure that sufficiently robust action is taken. Enforcement of all offences, however, including those against wild plants, is an operational matter for the police. Those found guilty of offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 already face strong sanctions, including an unlimited fine and imprisonment. We have no plans to alter these sanctions. Decisions on sentencing in individual cases are taken independently of Government. There are currently no plans to review the relevant provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Food: Waste Disposal

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the total annual cost of regular collections of food waste from (1) domestic households, (2) businesses, and (3) other organisations; and how such collectionis funded in each case.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: In 2019 the Government published an impact assessment to support its consultation on greater consistency in household and business recycling. In that impact assessment Government estimated that an investment in the range of £180 million - £260 million would be needed to roll out weekly separate food waste collection across households in England. These costs assume that all local authorities make no other change to collection systems and are estimated over a 7 year transition period from 2023 to 2029. This was based on what would be needed to cover additional bins, vehicles and transportation of food waste to AD sites. Given the additional costs involved in separate food waste collection the Government has stated that it will ensure that local authorities are resourced to meet new costs arising from separate food waste collections including upfront transition costs and ongoing operational costs. For businesses and other organisations the total annual costs for separate food waste collections were estimated to be £189 million. This estimate is based on all businesses participating in the scheme. The costs of business food waste collections would be funded by businesses. In the impact assessment published in 2019 our preferred option of having all businesses collect dry recyclable materials (with glass separated) and separate food waste collection showed that business could make greater savings overall and we would expect estimated savings of £1,206 million from the measures proposed to increase recycling in the non-household municipal sector. For very small or micro firms our impact assessment indicated that these might see greater costs from measures to increase recycling and Government is considering options to reduce costs for this sector including possible exemptions from requirements to separately collect food waste.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Colne Valley

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government what reasons the Environment Agency gave for allowing HS2 Ltd to drill at the Harvil Road site in the Colne Valley.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: The Environment Agency (EA) has given permission to High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd to carry out drilling activities at the Harvil Road site under Schedule 33 of the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Act 2017. The EA reviewed the risks to groundwater quality and quantity by the HS2 Ltd construction activities at the Harvil Road site in the Colne Valley and did not identify any reasons to prohibit drilling activities at the site.

Beef

lord jopling: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether beef from hormone-implanted cattle can be identified if there are higher levels of such hormones present in bull beef than beef from hormone-implanted steers.

lord gardiner of kimble: There are prototype analytical methods that give a good indication of whether a substance is naturally occurring. However, these need further refinement before they can be considered suitably robust and reliable for regulatory use. Furthermore, the UK has transposed EU Council Directive 96/22/EC (as amended) into national law ‘Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) (England and Scotland) Regulations 2015', with similar legislation for Wales and Northern Ireland. This legislation prohibits the use of artificial growth hormones in both domestic production and imported products as well as provides for the monitoring of residues of substances. This protection will continue now we have left the EU.

Beef

lord jopling: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether new evidence has appeared since theEuropean Economic Community imposed a ban on sales of hormone-implanted beef in1989 about the safety of such beef; and if so, (1) whether that evidence has changed the UK's view that the practice of hormone implantation is safe, and (2) what is the nature of that evidence.

lord gardiner of kimble: No new evidence in relation to the use of hormones as growth promotors has been reviewed by the UK Government’s independent Veterinary Products Committee since 2007. The UK has transposed EU Council Directive 96/22/EC (as amended) into national law ‘Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) (England and Scotland) Regulations 2015', with similar legislation for Wales and Northern Ireland. This legislation prohibits the use of artificial growth hormones in both domestic production and imported products as well as provides for the monitoring of residues of substances. This protection will continue now we have left the EU.

Tree Planting

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byViscount Younger of Leckie on 28 January (HL530), what are the actual numbers involved in their policy of "encouraging new tree planting on a massive scale"; and what is the period over which this will be achieved.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: We have set out an ambition to increase tree planting across the UK in this parliament to 30,000 hectares a year by 2025. In England we will increase planting with support from our new Nature for Climate Fund and are developing a programme for this. This will include support for domestic nurseries, grants to plant private land and support for a range of public, private and community organisations.

Trees: Conservation

baroness redfern: To ask Her Majesty's Government what scrutiny they are undertaking of planning applications affecting ancient woodland and veteran trees.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: In 2018 the Government strengthened the protection for ancient woodlands and ancient and veteran trees in the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which states that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats (such as ancient woodland and ancient or veteran trees) should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists (para 175c). This wording was retained in the 2019 NPPF update. For more information please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework/15-conserving-and-enhancing-the-natural-environment Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) determine planning applications affecting ancient woodland and veteran trees. Natural England (NE) are statutory consultees where an application might affect ancient woodland designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or where development requires an Environmental Impact Assessment. 23% of ancient woodlands are SSSIs. The Forestry Commission (FC) are non-statutory consultees on planning applications affecting ancient woodland, responding if asked to by the LPA. NE and the FC have prepared joint Standing Advice to assist local planning authorities making decisions on planning applications that may impact on ancient woodland, ancient and veteran trees. This advice is available on GOV.UK. There is no requirement for NE or the FC to be consulted on planning applications involving ancient and veteran trees, unless they are designated as a SSSI. Ancient woodlands and ancient and veteran trees may also be impacted by Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, for which NE and FC are statutory consultees. NE and the FC are also providing advice to HS2 Ltd on avoiding, mitigating and partially compensating for the impact of HS2 on ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees.

Northern Ireland Office

Migrant Workers: Northern Ireland

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the proposed points-based immigration system on the operation of (1) warehouses, (2) logistics, (3) food processing, and (4) retail businesses, in Northern Ireland; and what measures they are planning to take to ensure that vacancies in those industries are filled by domestic workers.

viscount younger of leckie: Under the new immigration system the UK will attract and keep the best talent from around the world, welcoming people to Northern Ireland and the whole UK based on how they can help grow the economy. We have engaged with all sectors of the Northern Ireland economy and will continue to do so. A programme of engagement will begin in March 2020 to raise awareness of the new system. Labour market data will be kept under very careful scrutiny to monitor any pressures in key sectors. We recognise that businesses will need to adjust, investing in the skills of resident workers, in staff retention and in technology and automation where relevant. Initiatives have already been introduced for the agricultural sector, which will provide businesses with additional flexibility in the shorter term.

Treasury

Overseas Loans: Republic of Ireland

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the status of the loan made by the UK to the Republic of Ireland following the financial crisis of 2008/09; what is the repayment schedule; and what are the servicing costs.

lord agnew of oulton: I refer the noble Lord to the most recent statutory report on the UK’s bilateral Loan to Ireland, which the Treasury provided to Parliament as required by Section 2 of the Loans to Ireland Act 2010. The most recent version of the report was laid in Parliament on 7 February 2020 and is available in the Printed Paper Office.[1] The report shows that the first repayment on the loan took place in April 2019. To date, four repayments have been made according to the agreed schedule. £1,613,480,000 on the principal remains outstanding. The final repayment will take place in March 2021. The Government continues to expect the loan to be repaid on time and in full. As stipulated under the loan’s Credit Facility Agreement, Ireland pays a service fee equal to 0.18% of the remaining tranches of the loan per annum. This fee is payable on 15 December and 15 June concurrently with interest payments on the remaining tranches of the loan. [1]https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/864414/PU2193_Ireland_loan_statutory_report_2020.pdf



stautory report
(PDF Document, 187.1 KB)

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Football: Racial Discrimination

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement byLord Ashton of Hyde on 11 April 2019 (HL Deb, col 585), what "clear, tangible actions" have been delivered to address racist abuse in football, in relation to each of the six areas they identified as needing to be examined further.

baroness barran: Racism or any form of discrimination has no place in football or society, and we must confront this vile behaviour. In July last year, the football authorities wrote to the government setting out their actions to further tackle discrimination: A review of how professional clubs sanction and educate offenders to provide more clarity and consistency.A review of FA sanctions for discrimination in the professional and grassroots game.Improved steward training, including new modules on recognising and responding to discriminatory behaviour.Improved reporting methods to enable fans to quickly and simply make clubs and the authorities aware of concerns or incidents of discrimination.Enhance and grow programmes to provide more opportunities for BAME people in coaching, refereeing, management and administrative positions in the sport.Further developing schools and community programmes, particularly in promoting inclusion through projects delivered by Premier League and EFL clubs. There is still more to do: the previous Minister for Sport recently met with the FA and EFL to discuss their progress, and the current Minister for Sport will be calling in all the footballing authorities for a further update about their work on this important issue.